Outrigger supports for mobilized log yarders and loaders, and the like



s. s. MCINTYRE, SR 2,855,111 OUTRIGGER SUPPORTS FOR MOBILIZED LOG YARDERS AND LOADERS, AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 7, 1958 Filed July 14, 1955 v INVEN TOR. Sidney S.MC|n1'yreR Z04 PQJMJ HTTGEN YJ Oct. 7, 1958 s. s. MOINTYRE, SR 2,355,111

OUTRIGGER SUPPORTS FOR MOBILIZED LOG YARDERS AND LOADERS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 14, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Sidney S. MclnryreS firms/ways Oct. 7, 1958 s, 5 MclNTYRE, 5 2,855,111

OUTRIGGER SUPPORTS FOR MOBILIZED LOG YARDERS AND LOADERS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 14, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

BY W

/ Y hog MN firmer/5Y5 Oct. 7, 1958 '5. s. M INTYRE, SR

OUTRIGGER SUPPORTS FOR MOBILIZED LOG YARDERS AND LOADERS, AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 14, 1955 Him 1 INVENTOR. Sidney S. McIntyre drive/v5 YS' 0d. 7, 1958 s. s. MCINTYRE, SR 2,855,111

OUTRIGGER SUPPORTS FOR MOBILIZED LOG YARDERS AND LOAF ERS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 14, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

BY Wwm/ HTTORHEYS jlDNfY SMINTYRE SR.

United States Patent OUTRIGGER SUPPORTS F011 MOBILIZED LOG YARDERS AND LOADERS, AND THE LIKE Sidney S. McIntyre, Sr., Sedro Woolley, Wash, assignor to The Humboldt Company, Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application July 14, 1955, Serial No. 522,090

6 Claims. (Cl. 212-145) This invention relates to improvements in outrigger mechanisms, and it has reference more particularly to outrigger mechanisms for use on heavy duty automotive wheel equipped machines that are designed for highway or road travel in moving from one location to another, and which mechanisms may be adjusted from non-functional, or retracted positions, at which they are disposed within the limits of the vehicle frame, to extended or functional positions well beyond the frame limits, there to serve as the main supports for the vehicle frame and machine thereon, to increase the effective width of the support and give the machine necessary and greatly increased stability in use.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide outrigger mechanisms of the above stated .character that are especially designed for use on mobile log yarders, log loaders, cranes and various other machines of that general character, and whereby the heavy weight of the mechanical equipment and the additional load that is placed on the vehicle incident to use of the equipment, will be taken olf the vehicle trucks and wheels, and the frame will be supported with the required stability for the particular work being done, especially in its resisting tendency of the machine to be tipped laterally.

It is a further object of the invention to equip the base frame of vehicles of the above character with outrigger mechanisms including hydraulic jacks mounted by supporting arms that are hinged to said base frame for swinging outwardly from their non-functional positions within opposite side limits of the vehicle frame :to positions of use at which they are spaced substantially outward from the frame; said swinging arms being equipped with releasable latching pawls for holding them in extended positions of use, and there being means for extending the jacks when in their outward positions, so that they will take the load 0d the vehicle trucks and wheels, and can be so adjusted as to level .up the machine for use, and stabilize it to meet all normal operating requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the several jacks may be individually adjusted between housed and extended positions, and held at any set position of functional use.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the hydraulic jacks :of the several outriggers with individual controls whereby each one, after being adjusted to its position of use, may be extended to a desired .or required distance, independent of the others, for support and leveling up of the machine for use.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of the various parts, and in their mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of a motorized, wheel mounted,

2,855,11 1 Patented Oct. 7, 1958 log yarding and loading machine that is equipped with outrigger mechanisms embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken on the line '2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the main frame structure and location of the outriggers in their application thereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken in the vertical plane of line 3-3 in Fig. '1, showing the outrigger jacks at one end of the machine extended as in use, and those at the other end as retracted andihoused within the side limits of the main frame structure.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the outrigger jacks and the ground engaging pad associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the arrangement of controls for the outrigger mechanisms of the present device.

Fig. 7 is a view diagrammatically illustrating themeans for adjusting the valve mechanism which control operation of the jack mechanism.

Referring more :in detail to the drawingsln Fig. l, I have shown, in part, amachine which has been designed for the yarding and loading of logs; this particular machine being equipped with a turntable .on which a boom and cable winding drums are mounted to serve the yarding and loading purposes of the machine. This machine is typical of the various types of machines and vehicles with which the present outrigger mechanisms may be used. The machine herein shown is motorized and is wheel supported for easy travel when moved from one location of use to another, over roads or highways. It comprises a rigid main frame structure mounted on the trucks and wheels through suitable springs, and equipped at front and rear ends of its .op-

posite sides, with outrigger mechanisms which may be extended and lowered against the ground to support, level up, and to stabilize the frame structure during the intended use of the mechanism thereon.

The main frame srtucture of the present machine, as well shown in plan view in Fig. 2, is substantially rectangular, and is fabricated from steel beams, bars and plates. It comprises two paired, longitudinal channel beams 10-10, that extend from end to end of the frame and which are equally outwardly spaced from the central longitudinal line of the machine. These beams 10-10 are of substantial vertical height and are faced toward each other as seen in Fig. 3. Fixed rigidly to the beams 10-10, at their opposite ends are transversely directed, rigid fabricated housings. Each of these housings is formed by two parallel, spaced and coextensive beams .12 and 13, and it is within the opposite ends of these transverse housings that the outrigger mechanisms of the present invention are contained while in their retracted positions.

It is observed by reference ot Fig. 2 that the beams 12 are disposed across the front and rear ends of the beams 10-10, and are fixed thereto, also, that they .are .substantially of the same vertical height as the beams 10. The inside beams 13 of the housings also are fixed to the beams 10-10, inwardly from the beams 12. They are of the same length .as beams 12. The beams 13 of the two housings are joined across their outer ends by outside beams 14-14 as shown in Fig. 2, to give greater rigidity and strength to the main frame structure.

It is further shown in Fig. 2, and also in Figs. .1 and 4, that the spaced, opposite side beams 12 and 13 of each housing are bridged across their .outer ends by frame members designated in their entireties by numeral .15, which, presently, will be more fully described. The spaced beams 12 and 13, as joined with the beams 10-10, and as extended to opposite sides of the main frame, define enclosures between them within which the outrigger jacks are housed when retracted, and from 3 which the jacks are adapted to be swung outwardly to the sides of the main frame and into ground contact for leveling, adjusting and support of the frame and to stabilize it for the intended use of the mechanism thereon.

The various beams as above described, and as joined together, provide a rigid, horizontal frame structure upon wh ch, in the present instance, a log yarder is mounted. This frame structure is supported for road travel of the machine, upon wheeled trucks. The wheels, designated at 16, may be of the usual types used on heavy duty trucks. The rear wheels are driven for propulsion of the vehicle, and the forward wheels are steerable. Since the trucks and wheels of the vehicle it controls, and the means for steering and propulsion, forms no particular part of the present invention, they have not been illustrated or described in detail herein.

Supported at the opposite ends of the transversely directed housings formed at the front and rear ends of the main frame by the paired beams 12 and 13 as fixed to the beams -10, are the outrigger mechanisms of this invention. Each of these mechanisms comprises a hydraulic cylinder 20 in which a piston 21 is reciprocally fitted as shown in Fig. 5. The piston is fixed to the inner end of a tubular piston rod 22 by bolts 23. The piston rod extends slidably through a packed gland 24 in a cylinder head 25 that is secured by bolts 26 to the lower end of the cylinder. Pivoted on the outer end of the piston rod, is a ground engaging pad 27 preferably of the form shown, and associated therewith in the manner, shown in Fig. 5.

The hydraulic cylinder 20, as associated with each jack mechanism, is supported by an arm 30 that is rigidly fixed at its outer end to a side wall of the cylinder between its ends, to extend substantially perpendicularly from the cylinder. At its inner end, the arm is mounted on a horizontal pivot bolt, or pin 31, that is mounted by and extends between bearing brackets 32-32 fixed to the lower sides of the beams 12 and 13 as has been shown best in Fig. 4. As thus mounted by the arm 30, the jack cylinder 20 can be swung upwardly and inwardly in a vertical plane from the substantially upright position, in which it is shown at the right hand end of Fig.3, into the enclosure formed between the ends of the spaced beams 12 and 13, and beneath the bridge frame at that end of the housing. When in this latter position, with its piston rod 22, retracted, the jack mechanism is confined entirely within the side limits of the main frame structure. When the jack is outwardly extended as shown, the pad 27, as applied to the piston end, engages the ground substantially outwardly from the side limits of the frame.

When in an extended, functional position of use, the jack cylinder, as carried by its arm 30, can be held at a set position against inward and upward swinging relative to the frame. This is effected by means of a two legged pawl 35 that is mounted at its base end on a pivot pin 36; this being mounted at its ends in spaced lugs or bosses 37-37 formed on the top side and outer end portion of the arm 30. The diverging legs of the pawl 35 extend upwardly and inwardly, as observed in Figs. 2 and 3, and are adapted to engage, respectively, at their outer ends with ratchet toothed racks 40 formed arcuately along opposite side portions of the bridge frames 15 as applied across the outer ends of the beams 12 and 13. It will be understood particularly by reference to Fig. 3 and the showing of the jack at the right hand end of that view, that with the legs of the pawl engaged against ratchet teeth of the racks 40, the jack will be so held that with the extending of the piston rod 22 from the cylinder, that part of the frame to which the jack is attached will be lifted accordingly.

It is further to be explained that when a jack cylinder is caused to move outwardly from a retracted or housed position, the pawl is urged outwardly from that position in which it is shown at the left hand side of Fig.

3, to ratchet over the teeth of racks 40 as it moves therealong, and then holdingly engages therewith to prevent any upward or return movement of the jack when lifting force is applied. This automatic engagement of the legs of the pawl with the racks 40 is caused by pressure of a coiled spring 41, applied about a telescopic rod 42 that is pivotally connected at one end to the pawl near the hinge pin by a pivot 43, and at its lower end has pivotal connection as at 44 with a plate 45 fixed to the arm near its pivoted end. The spring 41 is retained under compression between the plate 45 and an abutment 46 on the rod 42 to exert pressure against the pawl to swing it upwardly to ratchet over the teeth 40 as the cylinder swings outwardly from housed to a functional position. Locking of the pawl with the rack teeth is as shown at the right in Fig. 3.

To disengage the pawls from the teeth 40 preparatory to swinging the jack upwardly and into the housings, cables 50 are attached thereto; these being extended outwardly from power devices, presently described, located within the medial portion of the main frame structure, passing between guide rollers 51-51 mounted on the beams 10-10, and each then passing at its outer end over the rounded upper edge portion of a web plate 52 that is fixed between the diverging legs of the pawl, then downwardly at the outside of the plate, and having its end fixed to a bracket 53 on the pawl. The arrangement of the cables for jacks located at opposite ends of a crosshousing is in accordance with the showing in Fig. 3, and this arrangement provides that when a cable is drawn inwardly, the pull of the cable against the top edge of plate 52, causes the pawls to be swung inwardly and downwardly and out of contact with the teeth of the racks 40. It is most practical and generally essential, however, that before the pawl releasing operation, the jack piston rod is retracted and the vehicle wheels lowered into ground contact to support the load.

The hydraulic system whereby the jacks are caused to be extended and retracted under control of an operator, and whereby the jack-holding pawls may be disengaged from the racks, has been diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6. The system includes a well known and typical present day hydraulic pump 60 which is operable by any suitable power means, such as an electric motor, or by a power take-off from the engine which drives the machine, not herein shown, to deliver the hydraulic pressure medium from a storage tank 61 to a valve mechanism which is designated in its entirety in Fig. 6 by reference numeral 62, and from which it may be applied to the various jacks as desired or needed. The drawing shows pump 60 to be connected at its intake side by a pipe line 63 to draw hydraulic medium from the storage tank. Leading from the discharge side of the pump is a pipe line 64 that extends to the receiving side of the valve mechanism 62. A return pipe line 65 leads from the valve mechanism 62 back to the storage tank. Also, there is a pressure relief valve connected across the lines 64 and 65 as is common practise in such pressure systems.

Mounted in the main frame structure, preferably between the longitudinal beams 10-10 and also between the transverse housings which contain the jacks, are four hydraulic cylinders 66, corresponding to the four jacks 20. These cylinders extend in the longitudinal direction of the frame and are fixed against relative movement therein. Each cylinder contains a piston 67 from which a rod 68 extends. The cables 50, previously referred to, which connect at their outer ends to the jack locking pawls 35, are fixed at their inner ends to the rods 68 of the four cylinders, respectively, and extend therefrom, over sheave wheels 69 that are mounted on the beams 10, as shown best in Fig. 2, then outwardly between the guide rollers 51-51 and to the jack pawls. The arrangement is such that each pawl 35 is under control of an individual cylinder 66, to which pressure medium can be applied through the valve 62 as now explained.

The valve 62 comprises four separate valve structures, which in Fig. 6, are designated respectively by reference characters A, B, C and D. Each of these is adapted to receive pressure medium as supplied to the valve 62 from pipe line 64, and each valve structure A, B, C and D also has a return connection with pipe line 65.

For a better understanding, the four jack cylinders in Fig. 6 are designated respectively by reference characters A, B, C and D. Each of these is adapted to receive pressure medium as supplied to the valve 62 from pipe line 64, and each valve structure A, B, C and D also has a return connection with pipe line 65. For better understanding, the four jack cylinders in Fig. 6

, are designated by reference characters a, 20b, 20c

and 20d, and these are under control of the valve mechanisms A, B, C and D, respectively. It is also shown that each of the valve structures A, B, C and D has a flexible conduit connection, 70, with the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 20 of the corresponding jack, and also has a flexible conduit connection 71 with the lower end of the cylinder. The movable member of the valve mechanism is adapted to be controlled manually so as to direct pressure medium to the upper end of the jack cylinder to extend the jack piston for lifting the frame structure, or to the lower end to retract the piston rod. Manual operation of these mechanisms is effected through rods, or the like, 74, extended to the sides of the vehicle for easy access to the operator as has been shown in Fig. 7.

It is also to be observed that each of the pressure lines 71 has a pressure conduit 75 leading therefrom to the corresponding cylinder 66, so that when pressure medium is applied to the line 71, to retract the jack piston, it also will be applied to the cylinder 66 corresponding thereto for the purpose of drawing in on the pawl release cable 50 leading from that particular cylinder.

Assuming that the machine has been set on a location for use and the jack mechanisms have been adjusted to their outwardly extended positions as in Fig. 2 and their pawls locked against teeth of the racks 40, hydraulic medium applied to the upper ends of the jack cylinders 24} will extend their piston rods downwardly to lift the weight of the machine frame off the wheels and stabilize the machine for operation. The valve mechanisms are then set to retain the pressure medium in the jack cylinders and hold the positions of extension of the jack pistons. As resting upon the pads 27, the machine has a firm supporting foundation.

When it is desired to lower the machine onto its wheels for travel, the valve mechanisms are adjusted for outflow of pressure medium from the upper ends of the jack cylinders 2% back to the storage tank. After the machine has settled into the wheels 16, pressure medium may be applied to the lower ends of the jack cylinders to fully retract the pistons, and to effect the release of the jack holding pawls 35. It will be understood that when pressure medium is applied through the conduits 71, to jack cylinders 20 to retract the pistons, it is simultaneously applied through the connections 75 to the cylinders 66, to retract their pistons and cause cables 50 to pull the pawls 35 inwardly to positions disengaged from the racks 40. Then continued inward pull by the cables 54) swings the pawls inwardly and then pulls the jacks upwardly .and inwardly about their pivotal supports 31 to their fully housed positions.

To cause the jacks 20 to swing outwardly from their housed positions, to positions of use, it is only necessary to adjust the control valves A, B, C and D to permit medium to fiow from the cylinders 66 to relieve the holding tension of cables 50 so that, under their own weight, the jack mechanisms will swing outwardly. As

they swing outwardly, the pawls 35, attached thereto, ratchet over the teeth of the racks under the yielding pressure of springs 41, and lock therewith to prevent n'return.

In order that a pawl cannot be caused to be disengaged from its rack by any unusual strain on the machine that would cause it to tip laterally and then reset itself at a different place in its rack, tie chains are applied through loops 81 on the cylinders 20 and anchored after being drawn taut, to hooks 82 or other suitable means on the main frame structure, as has been illus-- trated at the left hand end in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mobilized vehicle of the character described having a main frame structure and outrigger supports mounted thereon; each of said outrigger supports comprising an arm that is hinged at one end to said main frame structure for swinging in a vertical plane between an upright position housed within the limits of said main frame structure and various angular portions extended laterally therefrom, a spring powered latching pawl pivoted on said arm, and a ratchet fixed in the housing with which the pawl is pressed into engagement by said spring as the arm swings outwardly for securing said arm when extended, and a lifting jack mounted at the outer end of said arm.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said outrigger supports includes a hydraulic cylinder with extendable and retractable piston, and wherein a hydraulic pressure system is connected with said cylinder and a valve is included therein for controlling the application of hydraulic medium to the cylinder.

3. A mobilized machine of the character described having a rigid main frame with wheeled supporting trucks, and a plurality of outrigger supporting means for said main frame, each comprising an arm that is hinged at its inner end to said main frame to swing in a vertical plane between an upwardly and inwardly directed position, housed within the limits of the frame to various angular positions directed outwardly therefrom, a jack rigidly mounted on the outer end of said arm and held thereby in frame lifting position when the arm is extended, a spring pressed pawl hingedly mounted on the outer portion of said arm, a ratchet fixed in the main frame in position to be engaged by said pawl to provide a frame lifting connection between arm and main frame, in any extended position of the arm, means for extending and retracting the jack for lifting or lowering the main frame through the mediacy of said arm, and power means for sequentially disengaging the pawl and for returning the arm from any extended position to a position for housing the arm and jack within the limits of the main frame.

4. A combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said spring means acts against the pawl continuously to urge it to ratchet engaging position during adjustment of the arm from a position within the frame to an outwardly extended lifting position, and wherein said power means includes a cable attached to the pawl, and a cable pulling means within the frame operable to draw in the cable to first pull the pawl free of the ratchet, and then, through connection of the pawl with the arm, to swing the arm and jack upwardly and inwardly to housed position.

5. In a mobile logging machine having a rigid main frame structure provided at opposite sides with housings that are open at their outer ends to the sides of the frame structure, an outrigger mechanism associated with each housing for swinging into and from the same through its open end; each outrigger mechanism comprising an arm hinged at its inner end to the main frame at the lower side of the corresponding housing, to swing on a horizontal axis, a hydraulic lifting jack fixed rigidly to the outer end of the arm to swing therewith into and from the housing, ratchet toothed bars fixed to the frame in the top of the housing, a pawl hinged at one end to the outer end of said arm, to engage with teeth of the ratchet bar to retain the arm in a selected extended position' and thus efiect a lifting connection between arm and frame structure, a spring disposed under compression between arm and pawl to yieldingly urge the latter to ratchet engaging position when the arm is extended, means for extending and retracting the jack for frame lifting or lowering when said arm is extended and power means including a cable attached to said pawl to pull the pawl free of contact with the ratchet and to swing said arm to a housed position within the frame.

6 A combination according to claim 5 wherein said power means comprises a hydraulic pressure system, a hydraulic cylinder for each outrigger mechanism, each having its piston controlled by said hydraulic pressure system and a cable connection between the pawl of the corresponding outrigger mechanism and piston of the hydraulic cylinder, and means for controlled application of hydraulic medium to said cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

